A Novel Approach to Crop Nutrition and Biostimulation

The timing of nutritional inputs to the maize crop is usually early in the season, either applied to the seedbed pre-drilling, or early post-emergence up to the 4- 6 leaf stage.

Pay Close Attention to Maize Crop Nutrition

Growers are being urged to ensure crops receive adequate nutrition throughout the growing season, to make sure they reach their full potential.
Dr Simon Pope, Wynnstay crop protection manager, says ideally the nutrient inputs for sowing and establishment will already have been applied, and plans should be made regarding the nutrition of the crop throughout the rest of the season.

Planning ahead for the 2021 maize crop

The last three maize seasons have had the same result – a mixed bag of performance depending on region, drilling date and harvest timings. However, in 2020, growers had a new challenge to contend with.

The removal of the seed treatment Mesurol left a hole in the crop protection armoury, resulting in crops being at greater risk from bird damage, which in previous years would not be high on the list of issues for most growers.

Maize Silage - Protect The Investment

Getting the best results from your maize crop doesn't just come from management in the field. Preventing losses in the pit from fermentation and aerobic spoilage is essential.

Crop Protection

It is essential to achieve effective weed control early in the crop's development. To avoid an irreversible effect on yield all weeds should be removed by the four-leaf stage of the crop at the very latest, and before the weeds reach 100mm in height.

A range of herbicides are available for use in maize for broadleaved weed and grass weed control. They can be divided into two categories depending on their recommended timing of application - either pre-emergence or post-emergence.

Crop Nutrition - Give the Crop a Good Start

One of the first questions to address relates to your soil and its nutritional status. Do you know the pH and the P/K indicates?

If the answer is no, then it is advisable to soil sample every field going into maize. The soil pH is fundamentally important to nutrient availability, affecting not only N, P, and K, but also micronutrients. Also, do not overlook sulphur, which for maize, as for other crops, is essential for nitrogen utilisation. The best advice is to accurately establish the pH and P/K indices, to record the amount of muck and slurry applied and to produce an accurate nutrient management plan which takes all of this into account.

Growing Maize Under Film

The additional costs associated with growing maize under film can be more than covered by the value of the increased DM yield and the increase in starch yield.

Volac Research Sheds Light on Multi-Cut Silage

New Volac research has taken a deeper look at the benefits of making multi-cut grass silage, whereby grass is cut younger and more often over the season, and examined how to better conserve this potentially high-quality forage.

Top tips to minimise losses during clamp filling and storage

Thanks to its high nutritional content, maize silage has a lot to offer as a forage option for both dairy and beef herds. However, maize can be a marginal crop if not harvested and ensiled correctly.

Influencing & Evaluating Crop Performance

There are a number of factors that can influence the success of a maize crop, discover our top 5 influencers.

Manufacturer	Limagrain
Articles	Growing A Successful Maize Crop It is now the time of year, where we look at the results from harvest and decide whether this maize growing season has been a success. As a forage crop, maize is palatable, high in energy, starch rich and has a good ME – all of which contribute to improved milk and meat production. Therefore, if your crop hasn’t produced the quantity and quality that you were hoping for this season, it may be that small changes to the way the crop is grown, could make a big difference to your results come harvest. If your maize has performed well this season, then looking at the finer details of growing a maize crop could enhance yield and nutritional value, whilst making maize production much more cost-effective. At Wynnstay, our specialists provide bespoke advice on all aspects of maize crop management: Of course, the factor which has greatest influence over the success of the crop is the weather, and this is totally out of our control. My advice to all growers is to apply attention to detail to every aspect of the crop’s management, and work with your Wynnstay specialist to ensure you are making the most effective decisions on inputs for your farm. Maize silage additive is available from stock and can also be delivered at short notice. Protect your investment with Wynnstay Corn. Silage sheets and Clingseal are also available from Wynnstay Stores and Wynnstay Agricentres, click here to find out more. Wynnstay Arable Department 01939 210555 To contact your local specialist or agronomist, please visit: www.wynnstayagriculture.co.uk/meet-the-wynnstay-teams
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